What Happens at a DUI Court Hearing?
What Happens at a DUI Court Hearing?
If you have been arrested for DUI in Atlanta, it is time to go to court and face your charges. Your first court appearance is the arraignment, in which you are required to enter a plea. You can plead guilty or not guilty. The judge will then determine whether you can afford to hire an attorney and may assign one to you. If you cannot afford an attorney, you will need to provide documentation that shows your income and expenses.
Your DUI lawyer in Atlanta will keep you informed about your court date and any developments that could affect your case. Your attorney will also help you with the court procedure. Depending on your case, you may be able to plea bargain. If you’re found guilty, a plea bargain is often the best way to avoid a jail sentence and other penalties. But it is not possible to plea bargain on your own, so it’s best to work with a DUI attorney in Atlanta to help you.
After being arrested for DUI, you may receive a license suspension. The DUI court hearing in Atlanta is held at the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, which is located at 225 Peachtree Street. Once the arraignment is over, your Atlanta DUI lawyer can begin working on the case and working out a plea deal. The judge oversees the entire case and will determine if you’re capable of pleading guilty or not guilty.
After you have been arrested, you’ll likely have an arraignment on the next business day. However, it is important to make sure that this court date doesn’t conflict with any prior commitments you might have. The judge will read the charges against you and then ask you to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. A conviction for DUI in Georgia will affect your driving record for the rest of your life. To minimize the negative impact of a DUI conviction on your personal life, it is a good idea to hire a DUI lawyer.
A DUI court hearing in Atlanta will decide the punishment you will receive for your crime. You will either face jail time, fines, or both. In some cases, you may even face an automatic license suspension. All of this will impact your employment prospects and future opportunities. Therefore, if you have been arrested for DUI, you must learn as much as you can about Georgia DUI law and your rights. This will help you prepare your defense.
The first court appearance will be the arraignment, during which the district attorney or county solicitor will enter formal charges against you. Once you have entered a plea, you will be required to appear before the judge for sentencing. After the sentencing, you will have a number of other court dates, depending on the case and the outcome of the trial.